Female students will share toilets and changing rooms with biological males as universities ignore the legal definition of a woman, senior staff have warned.
Women at University College London, who want to remain anonymous for fear of being ‘vilified’ by colleagues, have revealed the institution has continued to allow trans women to use female facilities.
The universities of Edinburgh, Southampton, Bath and Nottingham are additionally among those yet to publish a revised trans policy since the Supreme Court‘s ruling on what constitutes a woman.
This means their female students could also face sharing private spaces with biological males. It comes just weeks before the academic year starts.
The whistleblowers at UCL – home to 31,000 women in 2024/2025 – say the university has failed to adopt the judgment by claiming to be waiting for further clarity on its practical implications.
One said: ‘Bear in mind how many female students we have and will have from religious and cultural backgrounds.
‘Their parents have no idea that their daughters could be forced to share toilets and changing rooms with men.’
Another added: ‘It undermines women’s dignity and privacy.’
Women at University College London (pictured, file photo) have revealed the institution has continued to allow trans women to use female facilities
University of Edinburgh (pictured, file photo) is also among those yet to publish a revised trans policy since the Supreme Court’s ruling on what constitutes a woman
University of Nottingham (pictured, file photo) can be counted as one of this number too, along with Southampton and Bath
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued interim guidance stating ‘trans women should not be permitted to use the women’s facilities’ in April.
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that ‘woman’ and ‘man’ refer to biological women and men in the Equality Act and that ‘the concept of sex is binary’ earlier that month.
At the time, UCL released a statement claiming it would provide more information after guidance was given.
But the women claim the university’s approach has been hijacked by its LGBTQ+ Equality Steering Group, whose description of the ruling as ‘regrettable’ was posted on an official UCL webpage.
One academic said: ‘It’s quite mind-blowing. None of these statements say that this might be a massive relief for women.
‘They’re not acknowledging the impact on more than half of the UCL population.
‘You cannot talk about it even after the ruling when you have messages going out like that and no counter statement at all.
‘I feel unseen, unheard. They are delegating women’s rights.’
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in April that ‘woman’ and ‘man’ refer to biological women and men in the Equality Act and that ‘the concept of sex is binary’. Pictured: Susan Smith and Marion Calder, directors of the For Women Scotland group, celebrate the ruling outside the Supreme Court
The university’s guidance states: ‘On campus, trans students can use “men only” or “women only” changing rooms or toilets according to which one they feel most comfortable in, or that they feel is most appropriate for them.’
UCL and Bath said they are committed to providing an ‘inclusive’ community, but are awaiting updated EHRC guidance.
The University of Edinburgh said: ‘Our policy is thoughtfully worded…
‘We will continue to approach the Supreme Court judgment in a considered way, carefully and appropriately balancing everyone’s rights.’
